286 
ABSENCE OF ANT BEMEDT. 
they say with simplicity, “ el sudar y las moscas,” (the perspi- 
ration and the flies). "We have reason to believe that man- 
kind, as they change the surface of the soil, will succeed in 
altering by degrees the constitution of the atmosphere- 
The insects will diminish when the old trees of the forest 
have disappeared; when, in those countries now desert, 
the rivers are seen bordered with cottages, and the plains 
covered with pastures and harvests. 
Whoever has lived long in countries infested by mos- 
quitos will be convinced, as we were, that there exists m> 
remedy for the torment of these insects. The Indians, 
covered with anoto, bolar earth, or turtle oil, are not pro- 
tected from their attacks. it is doubtful whether the 
painting even relieves: it certainly does not prevent the 
evil. Europeans, recently arrived at the Orinoco, the H' (> 
Magdalena, the river Guayaquil, or ltio Chagres (I mention 
the four rivers where the insects are most to be dreaded) at 
first obtain some relief by covering their faces and hands, 
but they soon feel it difficult to endure the heat, are wear/ 
of being condemned to complete inactivity, and finish with 
leaving the face and hands uncovered. Persons who would 
renounce all kind of occupation during the navigation o' 
these rivers, might bring some particular garment fro"' 
Europe in the form of a bag, under which they could 
remain covered, opening it only every half-hour. This bag 
should be distended by whalebone hoops, for a close mask 
and gloves would be perfectly insupportable. Sleeping o" 
the ground, on skins, or in hammocks, we could not make 
use of mosquito-curtains (toldos) while on the Orinoco- 
The toldo is useful only where it forms a tent so well closed 
around the bed that there is not the smallest opening by 
which a gnat can pass. This is difficult to accomplish ; and 
often when you succeed (for instance, in going up the II"' 
Magdalena, where you travel with some degree of con- 
venience), you are forced, in order to avoid being suffocated 
by the heat, to come out from beneath your toldo. and walk 
about in the open air. A feeble wind, smoke, and powerfm 
smells, scarcely afford any relief in places where the insect- 
are very numerous and very voracious. It is erroneous-! 
affirmed that these little animals fly from the peculiar smcd 
emitted by the crocodile. We were fearfully stung a 
